---
title: "Fans sympathise on social media as Dean Smith loses more key personnel"
canonical: "https://readastonvilla.com/2021/08/12/fans-sympathise-on-social-media-as-dean-smith-loses-more-key-personnel-aston-villa-richard-okelly-john-terry-jack-grealish/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Crippy Cooke"
section: "Aston Villa News"
published: "2021-08-12T16:56:56Z"
modified: "2021-08-12T16:56:57Z"
---

# Fans sympathise on social media as Dean Smith loses more key personnel

Aston Villa’s opening Premier League [game](https://www.avfc.co.uk/matches/) is against Watford on Saturday, but the Midlands outfit are reeling after the loss of another key person.

Villa [confirmed](https://readastonvilla.com/2021/08/12/shock-on-social-media-as-aston-villa-confirm-departure-of-richard-okelly/) on Thursday afternoon that Richard O’Kelly had left the club but didn’t list any reasons for the departure. After John Terry [exited](https://readastonvilla.com/2021/07/26/john-terry-hailed-by-players-and-supporters-on-social-media-after-exiting/) to become a manager in his own right and Jack Grealish [made the switch](https://readastonvilla.com/2021/08/04/jack-grealish-trends-aston-villa-exit-looms-manchester-city-close-100m-deal/) to Manchester City, O’Kelly is now the third important person to leave in only a matter of weeks.

The 64-year-old was a popular coach at Bodymoor Heath too, let alone playing his part in Villa’s upward trajectory in recent years, so fans on [social media](https://twitter.com/search?q=%22Dean%20Smith%22&src=trend_click&vertical=trends) are sympathising with Dean Smith – the Villa boss has been trending on Twitter after O’Kelly’s exit was announced.

[Ashley Preece](https://twitter.com/PreeceObserver/status/1425845680896200704?s=20) of *Birmingham Live* described the coach as very popular among the players, so it doesn’t appear to be a breakdown in relationship that’s led to him leaving. It remains to be seen whether the true reason is ever disclosed, but Villa now have another position to fill.

O’Kelly’s exit might negatively affect Villa’s start to the season too, so it’s not recommended to make such changes before an opening game.

***[In other news, there’s shock on social media as Aston Villa confirm departure of Richard O’Kelly](https://readastonvilla.com/2021/08/12/shock-on-social-media-as-aston-villa-confirm-departure-of-richard-okelly/)***